The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) confirmed yesterday that 308 migratory birds have died since April 23 when a bird flu outbreak was reported in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

 

Yushu County of Qinghai reported the outbreak of bird flu among migratory birds on April 23. The MOA held special meetings to come up with effective control measures.

 

The local veterinary department has recently collected 2,891 samples from the migratory birds in Qinghai, all of which tested negative for the bird flu virus, the ministry said.

 

A reporting network has been launched in 39 counties of Qinghai. More than 4,800 observers in 4,133 villages are to immediately report to veterinary stations if any suspicious illness in birds is discovered.

 

This spring Qinghai quarantined 2.15 million domestic fowl and there have been no reports of any contracting the virus.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 20, 2006)